Table 1.
Quality of life—indirect comparison of testosterone products
| Standardised mean difference (95% credible interval)* | |||||||||||||||
| Placebo | Patch, 5 mg/day |
Gel 1%, 5 mg/day |
Gel 1%, 50 mg/day |
Gel 1%, 75 mg/day | Gel 1%, 100 mg/day |
Gel 2%, 60 mg/day |
Oral TU, 160 mg/day |
IM TU, 1000 mg/ 10 weeks |
IM TU, 1000 mg/ 12 weeks |
IM TE, 250 mg/ 3 weeks |
IM TE, 250 mg/ 4 weeks |
IM TC, 200 mg/ 4 weeks |
IM Sustanon, 100 mg/2 weeks | IM Durateston, 250 mg/4 weeks | |
| Patch, 5 mg/day |
−0.33 (−0.97 to 0.31) |
– | |||||||||||||
| Gel 1%, 5 mg/day |
−0.11 (−0.86 to 0.64) |
0.21 (−0.78 to 1.20) |
– | ||||||||||||
| Gel 1%, 50 mg/day |
−0.32 (−0.74 to 0.17) |
0.01 (−0.76 to 0.82) |
−0.20 (−1.05 to 0.69) |
– | |||||||||||
| Gel 1%, 75 mg/day |
−0.24 (−0.83 to 0.34) |
0.09 (−0.78 to 0.95) |
−0.12 (−1.09 to 0.82) |
0.08 (−0.70 to 0.79) |
– | ||||||||||
| Gel 1%, 100 mg/day |
−0.19 (−0.94 to 0.55) |
0.13 (−0.84 to 1.10) |
−0.08 (−1.13 to 0.97) |
0.12 (−0.78 to 0.96) |
0.04 (−0.89 to 0.99) |
– | |||||||||
| Gel 2%, 60 mg/day |
−0.29 (−1.01 to 0.44) |
0.04 (−0.93 to 1.00) |
−0.17 (−1.21 to 0.87) |
0.03 (−0.85 to 0.86) |
−0.05 (−0.96 to 0.89) |
−0.09 (−1.12 to 0.94) |
– | ||||||||
| Oral TU, 160 mg/day |
0.20 (−0.33 to 0.74) |
0.53 (−0.30 to 1.36) |
0.32 (−0.61 to 1.24) |
0.52 (−0.21 to 1.19) |
0.44 (−0.34 to 1.24) |
0.40 (−0.51 to 1.31) |
0.49 (−0.41 to 1.38) |
– | |||||||
| IM TU, 1000 mg/10 weeks | −0.21 (−0.96 to 0.56) |
0.12 (−0.87 to 1.13) |
−0.09 (−1.15 to 0.98) |
0.11 (−0.80 to 0.98) |
0.03 (−0.92 to 1.00) |
−0.01 (−1.07 to 1.06) |
0.08 (−0.97 to 1.14) |
−0.41 (−1.35 to 0.53) |
– | ||||||
| IM TU, 1000 mg/12 weeks |
−0.48
(−0.84 to –0.10) |
−0.15 (−0.89 to 0.60) |
−0.36 (−1.19 to 0.48) |
−0.16 (−0.76 to 0.41) |
−0.24 (−0.91 to 0.47) |
−0.28 (−1.10 to 0.55) |
−0.19 (−1.00 to 0.62) |
−0.68
(−1.32 to –0.02) |
−0.27 (−1.12 to 0.58) |
– | |||||
| IM TE, 250 mg/3 weeks | −0.05 (−1.04 to 0.94) |
0.28 (−0.47 to 1.03) |
0.07 (−1.17 to 1.30) |
0.27 (−0.85 to 1.33) |
0.19 (−0.95 to 1.34) |
0.15 (−1.09 to 1.37) |
0.24 (−1.00 to 1.46) |
−0.25 (−1.38 to 0.88) |
0.16 (−1.10 to 1.40) |
0.43 (−0.63 to 1.49) |
– | ||||
| IM TE, 250 mg/4 weeks |
0.08 (−0.44 to 0.63) |
0.41 (−0.41 to 1.26) |
0.20 (−0.72 to 1.13) |
0.40 (−0.32 to 1.09) |
0.32 (−0.44 to 1.13) |
0.28 (−0.62 to 1.21) |
0.37 (−0.51 to 1.28) |
−0.12 (−0.86 to 0.66) |
0.29 (−0.64 to 1.22) |
0.56 (−0.09 to 1.22) |
0.13 (−0.97 to 1.27) |
– | |||
| IM TC, 200 mg/4 weeks |
0.12 (−1.00 to 1.25) |
0.45 (−0.83 to 1.74) |
0.24 (−1.10 to 1.59) |
0.44 (−0.78 to 1.64) |
0.36 (−0.89 to 1.63) |
0.32 (−1.03 to 1.66) |
0.41 (−0.92 to 1.74) |
−0.08 (−1.32 to 1.18) |
0.33 (−1.01 to 1.68) |
0.60 (−0.46 to 1.67) |
0.17 (−1.32 to 1.66) |
0.04 (−1.20 to 1.28) |
– | ||
| IM sustanon, 100 mg/2 weeks |
−0.28 (−1.17 to 0.62) |
0.05 (−1.05 to 1.14) |
−0.16 (−1.32 to 1.01) |
0.04 (−0.99 to 1.02) |
−0.04 (−1.10 to 1.03) |
−0.08 (−1.24 to 1.09) |
0.01 (−1.13 to 1.16) |
−0.48 (−1.52 to 0.57) |
−0.07 (−1.24 to 1.11) |
0.20 (−0.77 to 1.16) |
−0.23 (−1.56 to 1.11) |
−0.36 (−1.42 to 0.67) |
−0.40 (−1.84 to 1.02) |
– | |
| IM durateston 250 mg/4weeks | −0.37 (−1.49 to 0.74) |
−0.05 (−1.33 to 1.24) |
−0.26 (−1.61 to 1.09) |
−0.06 (−1.27 to 1.12) |
−0.14 (−1.37 to 1.13) |
−0.18 (−1.51 to 1.16) |
−0.08 (−1.40 to 1.23) |
−0.57 (−1.81 to 0.66) |
−0.17 (−1.52 to 1.17) |
0.10 (−0.95 to 1.15) |
−0.33 (−1.81 to 1.17) |
−0.46 (−1.70 to 0.76) |
−0.50 (−1.52 to 0.52) |
−0.10 (−1.52 to 1.33) |
– |
*Random-effects model, with analysis based on mean change from baseline. A negative standardised mean difference indicates improvement in quality of life. Statistically significant changes are indicated by use of bold and colour (green indicates that the row treatment is significantly better than the column treatment), and white indicates no statistically significant difference between treatments.
IM, intramuscular injection; TC, testosterone cypionate; TE, testosterone enanthate; TU, testosterone undecanoate.